The risk of COVID-19 resurgence remains high in several African countries due to poor adherence to public health measures, including mass gatherings, low testing and vaccination rates, an analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) has shown. Three countries face very high risk of COVID-19 resurgence, 20 face high, 22 moderate risk, and only one country faces low risk, according to the risk assessment of 46 countries, a WHO Africa Regional Office said in statement on Thursday. The risk was estimated using seven indicators with data from the past four weeks, including COVID-19 cases per million people; the percentage of…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Benue has recorded a drop in malaria cases from 23 per cent to 12.8 per cent, Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Ngbea said. Ngbea, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Andrew Amee, made this known while briefing newsmen in Makurdi. According to him, the figure is based on the latest Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2020. “This feat is made possible largely to the continued support and maintenance of essential health services by the state government. “The state government ensured that communities are protected from malaria,” he said. The commissioner said that malaria kills more than…
The Presidency has told Benue governor, Samuel Ortom that he should not desecrate the lives of Nigerian citizens by deploying them in political diatribe. It also expressed disappointment and sadness over accusations allegedly levelled against President Muhammadu Buhari by Ortom, following recent killings of soldiers and innocent citizens in the state. A statement by the spokesperson to the President, Malam Garba Shehu on Thursday, said no responsible government takes pleasure in such events as the killing of the military and that of innocent citizens taking refuge in an Internally Displaced People’s camp. Shehu said the president said he was deeply…
Those of us of a certain age, ALL, recollect with pride, the moment we heard our Head of State, Murtala Mohammed declare to the world that: “Africa has come of age. It is no longer under the orbit of any extra continental power. It should no longer take orders from any country, however powerful.” The speech was at the Organization of African Unity (OAU) summit in Addis Ababa, on January 11, 1976 and it pushed Africa to rise to resist US’s pernicious pro-Portuguese position in Angola, Mozambique and the rest of Southern Africa. In the run up to the Summit,…
Trading returned to positive territory on Thursday with the key indices rebounding by 1.75 per cent , amid gains by some highly capitalised stocks. Consequently, the All-Share Index chalked up 679.72 points or 1.75 per cent to close at 39,461.20 from 38,781.48 recorded on Wednesday. Similarly, the market capitalisation inched higher by N355 billion in six hours to close at N20.651 trillion against N20.296 trillion. The uptrend was also driven by price appreciation in medium and large capitalised stocks amongst which include Dangote Cement, MTN Nigeria Communication, Okomu Oil, Julius Berger and Ekocorp. Market breadth closed positive with 24 stocks…
Access Bank Plc has posted a profit before tax (PBT) of N60.1 billion, representing an increase of 30 per cent for the first quarter ended March 31. The Chief Executive Officer of the group, Mr Herbert Wigwe, disclosed in an unaudited financial report notice sent to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Ltd., on Thursday in Lagos. Wigwe said the bank delivered strong results in the first quarter in spite of the challenging macroeconomic and regulatory environment. He said that the PBT was higher when compared with N46.2 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2020. Wigwe added that profit after tax…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to convoke a national dialogue to discuss the rising insecurity in the country. The PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus gave the advice at the emergency meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on Thursday in Abuja. Secondus said the insecurity situation in the country was becoming worrisome and should be promptly addressed, particularly to ensure smooth conduct of 2023 general elections. He said that the banditry and herdsmen menace were already taking huge tolls on different sectors of the country, including education and food production as farmers avoid their…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday announced the immediate removal of all directors of First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. and FBN Holdings Plc over purported management changes at the bank. The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emeifele said this in a statement titled “The Purported Management Change at the First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. Consequently, Emeifele announced the appointment of Mr Remi Babalola as the Chairman of FBN Holdings. Other directors appointed by the apex bank were Dr Fatade Abiodun Oluwole, Kofo Dosekun Remi Lasaki, Dr Alimi Abdulrasaq, Ahmed Modibbo ,Khalifa Imam and Sir Peter Aliogo. Emefiele, however, retained Mr UK…
The Police Command in Lagos State has debunked the rumours that there were plans to release Nollywood actor, Baba Ijesha, who was arrested for alleged defilement. Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, comedian Princess and others were reported to have stormed the SCID, Panti, to protest alleged plans to release Baba Ijesha by the police However, the spokesperson of the command, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said there were no plans to release the suspect as wrongly perceived. He added that the Commissioner Police in Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, had ordered the detention of the suspect pending the receipt of legal advice from…
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the country’s healthcare system would be strengthened. The President disclosed this on Thursday when he declared open, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) 61st Annual General Conference in Jos. Buhari, represented by the Minister for Health, Prof. Osagie Enahire, further disclosed that a resilient healthcare system would be built via strengthening the secondary healthcare and reforming the tertiary healthcare institutions in the country. According to him, the government has made considerable investment in facility upgrade and expansion of organisation in most Federal and state hospitals in the shape of isolation and treatment centers. He urged medical…